Birkenhead MP Frank Field publishes his expenses

May 20 2009 by Matt Hurst, Birkenhead News

Frank Field

BIRKENHEAD MP Frank Field has revealed his full expenses and is urging colleagues to do the same.

Wirral is making national headlines as one of the four MPs who represent the borough in the House of Commons, Ben Chapman is facing possible suspension from the party following publication of his expenses claims.

The MP for Wirral South, a constituency that stretches from Bebington to Eastham, stands accused of receiving £15,000 from the taxpayer to cover interest payments on a mortgage that had already been substantially cleared.

Mr Chapman says he made the claims in full knowledge, and with the blessing of, the Fees Office, whose role is to regulate and police the submissions of elected members.

Elliot Morley, Labour MP for Scunthorpe, was suspended from the party for making similar ‘phantom mortgage’ claims.

But Frank Field has decided to face the scandal head on and this week published all his expenses on his website, before emailing colleagues and urging them to do the same.

Along with fellow Labour MP Angela Eagle, Mr Field boasts some of the lowest claims in the Commons.

Between 2004 and 2005 he was reimbursed to the tune of £17,246 but by financial year 2007/08, this had dropped to £9,573.